'IRAQ
declared, served England rather than 'Iraq. On the other
hand, when unsatisfactory appointments were made, when poor
work was done and when progress was slow, British officials
attributed it to the fact that their position was only advisory.
Too often, however, the dual responsibility became the
whipping-boy for lack of initiative, for indolence and for, in
some cases, even the lowering of standards.
To 'Iraqis, dual responsibility represented even more than
administrative dependence. Taken in conjunction with treaty
obligations and the subsidiary Agreements, it became the reason
why 'Iraq's efforts to win independence were thwarted at every
turn. It covered the anomalous position of 'Iraq as an inde-
pendent Kingdom under the Mandate of Great Britain. It
explained the predicament of the Ministers, nominally re-
sponsible to the people of 'Iraq, but actually subject to the con-
trol of their British Advisers. It was the reason why the 'Iraq
Government administered and paid the deficits of the railways
and of Basra Port, but did not own them; why it could declare
martial law, but under the Military Agreement, could not ad-
minister it; why it had an army, but could not move it without
the consent of the High Commissioner. Officers of the 'Iraq
Government, both British and 'Iraqi, were King Faisal's
officials but they were selected for him with the High Com-
missioner's concurrence. Foreign Governments (members of
the League) could discriminate in tariff and other matters
against Iraqi subjects, but the 'Iraq Government had no
power to retaliate; foreign subjects had special judicial privi-
leges in 'Iraq while 'Iraqi subjects had no reciprocal advantages
abroad. The 'Iraq Government was obliged to pay half the
cost of the expenses of the British High Commissioner and his
staff in 'Iraq, but had no control over the expenditure incurred
on this account. Finally, although under the Military Agree-
ment the 'Iraq Government should, not later than four years
from the date of the conclusion of the Agreement, accept full
responsibility for the maintenance of internal order and for the
368